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Ferrell's comedic Holmes on hold until Downey's comes out
Will Ferrell, who may play Dr. Watson in a Sherlock Holmes film with Sacha Baron Cohen, told a group of reporters that the comedy duo are waiting out the similarly themed Robert Downey Jr. movie, directed by Guy Ritchie, to decide whether to move forward. Downey's Sherlock Holmes opens Christmas 2009.
"It's just a question of the Robert Downey Jr. one that they've just shot, which I think will come out during Christmas or something like that," Ferrell said in response to a question about the status of his Holmes movie in a group interview last week in Hollywood, where he was promoting Land of the Lost. "That one's probably going to be a hit franchise, and [we have to decide] whether that is something you want to go up against."
Ferrell went on to explain the factors that could give him confidence to create an alternate Sherlock Holmes franchise. "Would it just inform the audience to allow for us to do a comedy version, or would it feel like we're just trying to copy them?" he asked. "Even though I think we wrote our script before they did or something like that. I don't know, but, yeah, we're thinking about it."
The status of Ferrell's film is in mid-development, beyond the scripting stage. "We've got a script written by Etan Cohen," he said. "I just met with Sacha, like, three weeks ago. We're talking about it some more."
By Jim Johnson at 4:19 PM ON 05/30/09
God, haven't people had enough of Will Ferrell? Haven't the success of the Judd Apatow films kind of shown that people are sick of the wacky, zany, over-the-top clown characters that are Will Ferrell's domain? Jim Carrey dropped that act, Adam Sandler seems to be in the process of dropping it... Will should take a cue.
By M at 4:31 PM ON 05/30/09
I agree with the "haven't people had enough of Will Ferrell", and will add, hasn't flavor-of-the-month Hollywood had enough of him already... I don't think he's funny, and I don't know anyone who thinks he's funny. Enough already!
By Zosolias at 4:48 PM ON 05/30/09
Talladega Nights was the only funny movie Ferrell ever made. How anyone could think casting him in a Sherlock Holmes movie of any kind is a good idea is beyond me.
Z
By MtW42 at 4:55 PM ON 05/30/09
I'd watch it!
By photoguyryan at 6:16 PM ON 05/30/09
I really wouldnt mind watching land of the lost, if that danged T-rex would actually eat ferrell, and put him out of our misery.
By Muldfeld at 6:43 PM ON 05/30/09
While I do find Will Ferrell's stuff tiresome, I don't find him a bad guest on talk shows, and I much prefer him to the most irritating human being of all time -- Jim Carrey. Carrey is such an egotist with his annoying shinanigans. He's not funny at all, and he selfishly dominates any talk show appearance to the point of interfering with the next guest's time. What a jerk! Ferrell actually seems like a decent guy, and he was excellent in the Woody Allen film "Melinda and Melinda". In contrast, I don't think I've every liked Ben Stiller in a film. Even Sandler is so tiresome with his regular schmo schtick.
By mykl at 9:25 PM ON 05/30/09
I think WIll should move on comedic wise like Carrey and such… Cohen Baron should just drop off a cliff he is not that great… never was.
By admiral100 at 10:15 PM ON 05/30/09
You guys can add Jack Black to that list.
By sf1 at 11:14 AM ON 05/31/09
Will Ferrell is a freaking comedic genius! Nuff said.
By DarthQueeg at 11:24 AM ON 05/31/09
People who don't find Will Farrell or Sacha Baron Cohen funny lose their man-privileges and need to turn in their man-membership cards.
Instead they need to send in their wuss boxtops to get their wuss decoder rings.
By Scanner at 7:14 PM ON 05/31/09
My take is that while Will Ferrell doesn't pull off the "zany" humor that Jim Carrey was successful at for a while, LIKE Jim Carrey he'd be much better at the less zany, variance comedy such as Carrey excelled in, like Liar Liar. For Carrey, Ace Ventura and The Mask were excellent diving board starts, but hit dirt bottom with unnecessarily WAY-over the top performances such as in Batman Forever. Farrel could be an excellent actor, but should shift into an alternative genre now to continue to be successful. IMHO.
By Spaceman Spiff at 3:35 PM ON 06/03/09
Will Ferrell is NOT funny. AT ALL!
His comedy is simply stupid.
Sasha Batron Cohen should be outlawed from making movies.
If this film is actually made the USA shou;ld change it's name to the NEW roman empire.
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Spaceman Spiff:
Will Ferrell is NOT funny. AT ALL! His comedy is simply stupid. Sasha Batron Cohen should be outlawed from making m...More »